Chasing Time

“Next, we have the most noble recipient of the Order of the Garter, the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Victoria Cross and the lower grades of Knighthood, the leader of the anti-colonial movement, the bell-ringer of the East India Company, the hero of the Crimean War, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifelong dear friend of literary giants such as Dickens and Great Dumas, a steadfast supporter of scientific luminaries like Faraday and Darwin, having served as assistant under-secretary, deputy under-secretary, and permanent under-secretary in departments of the Home Office and the Navy Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the inaugural Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, the first graduate and most distinguished alumnus of our school. Please welcome Sir Arthur Hastings to deliver a speech on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of London.”
Arthur's gaze swept across the crowd before him, looking at the young faces and murmured, “Agares, what do you think I should say?”
The Red Devil's wraith hovered behind him, saliva almost dribbling from the corner of his mouth, “Look at these ignorant souls; they still worship you as a hero. Why not say something they'd like to hear?”
Arthur took a deep breath and let out a deafening roar, “Oxford is a bunch of whores' bastards!”
“Oh!!!!”
The audience erupted into thunderous applause.
“Cambridge is the same!” he added immediately.
The applause grew even more fervent...
(The protagonist, possessed by a devil, travels through 19th-century Britain in a world without magic)

The Shadow of Great Britain

London, Westminster autonomous city, Whitehall, the Home Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.


In the office of the Home Office, Sir Peel sat in his office chair, holding a freshly printed copy of The Times in his hands, while beside him lay a newly delivered copy of The Guardian, still damp with rainwater.


He meticulously read every word on the newspapers, yet the more he read, the more his hand trembled.


Finally, he slammed the newspapers onto the desk with a smack.


"Utter nonsense! These people will stop at nothing to bring down the Cabinet!"


Just then, his private secretary happened to enter the room and was startled by the scene. The secretary paused momentarily before remembering his duty.


"Sir, the Duke of Wellington just sent a message, he has summoned you to 10 Downing Street."


Chapter 30 Wellington and Peel's Calculations